India: Delivery Platforms (Verification of Antecedents of Delivery Personnel) Act 2026 was introduced to Council of States

On 6 February 2026, the Delivery Platforms (Verification of Antecedents of Delivery Personnel) Act, 2026 was introduced to the Council of States to mandate background verification of delivery personnel engaged by delivery platforms and other employers. The Bill applies to entities facilitating delivery services, including digital intermediaries, logistics companies, and courier and food delivery platforms, and covers employees, gig workers, contract workers, and independent partners. It would require mandatory pre-engagement verification of identity and criminal antecedents and provide that verification certificates remain valid for two years, subject to renewal. Employers would bear the full cost of verification and would be prohibited from recovering such costs from delivery personnel. Platforms would be required to maintain an electronic register of delivery personnel, accessible to authorised law-enforcement authorities, and would prohibit deployment of personnel without a valid verification certificate. The Bill would also impose reporting duties in cases of suspected criminal activity and compliance obligations during inspections. Financial penalties would apply for violations, with enhanced sanctions and possible suspension of delivery operations in cases of repeated non-compliance.